Engine VIN decoding help

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Oct 7, 2001 | 12:57 PM

68shark

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Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2001

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From: Ajax Ontario

Engine VIN decoding help

The 327 engine in my '68 was replaced with a correct casting number replacement for my very late production '68. Casting number is 3914678, date code is G258. My VIN ends in 28101, last unit produced in Aug '68 ended at 28566, per the black book.

On the engine pad are the following numbers: 781140720 and VO42350.

Does anyone know the original horsepower or original application of this engine?

Does my date code precede date of manufacture? Code on trim tag is M06. Is this August 6?? I believe date coding indicates July 25, 68 casting date for block. True?
Thanks!!

Oct 7, 2001 | 01:40 PM

clem zahrobsky

Le Mans Master

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From: delmont pa

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Re: Engine VIN decoding help (68shark)

i can not find the VO prefix but 3914678 casting block could be,68-302,68-327,or 68-350 block according to mor tec

Oct 7, 2001 | 01:51 PM

68shark

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Burning Brakes

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From: Ajax Ontario

Re: Engine VIN decoding help (clem zahrobsky)

Thanks Clem....My crank casting number is 3947114 which was used for both 307 and 327 but combined with my block number, means it is definitely a 327, I just don't know which 327 it started out as (HP), nor the original application. Heads were truck heads (293), since discarded in favour of the correct "doublehump" 2.02/1.60, 58cc heads that my car (L79) would have been equipped with.

Can anybody help with the date codes (engine/car) match and the original use of this motor?

Thanks!
PS. Just heard Kabul is under attack....President is speaking shortly, so may want to find a TV.

Oct 7, 2001 | 07:45 PM

Corz

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From: Middletown Connecticut

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Re: Engine VIN decoding help (68shark)

if they were the double hump heads, it should be a 350 horser.. but that could be that I'm a little on the stupid side :flag

Oct 8, 2001 | 12:28 AM

Tom73

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From: NM

Re: Engine VIN decoding help (68shark)

Quote:

On the engine pad are the following numbers: 781140720 and VO42350.

Does my date code precede date of manufacture? Code on trim tag is M06. Is this August 6?? I believe date coding indicates July 25, 68 casting date for block.

Check your engine pad again. That second number is the assembly date of the engine and is in the format of: V=engine assembly plant (Flint), 0423=assembly date (April 23), and 50=engine usage. The engine usage should be two or three letters, not numbers. I checked for SO and SQ but could not find any thing. Did find an SG but that was a '63 engine.

The date code on the trim tag is the date the body was assemblied and is usualy one to two days before the car came off the assembly line. The letter is the month and the two numbers is the day of the month. In this format A=first month of production, B=second month, etc. The 68 production started in Sept 67, so A=Sep 67, B=Oct 67, etc. Last month of production was Aug 68 or K. Was no M. Does the paint and trim codes match your car?

tom...

Oct 8, 2001 | 04:23 PM

68shark

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Burning Brakes

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From: Ajax Ontario

Re: Engine VIN decoding help (Tom73)

Tom, thanks for looking into this for me. This is really strange though. The numbers on the pad are very clearly read, just as I indicated them to be. The "50" part of VO42350 is very clear, not "SO" or any other derivative.

The trim tag is also clearly M06 which is really baffling considering you indicated there was no such date?? The trim and colour codes match exactly. 972 being Polar white and STD for the black vinyl interior.

Can anyone shed some light on this?? Car vin is clearly '68 and car has all the odd '68 only features. Reason I'm mentioning this is '69 model year was a long run and may have had an "M" month of manufacture. My "black book" indicates production for every month except July for some reason. Is it possible they skipped and used "M" instead of "K"??

Any other late production '68's out there who can comment??
Thanks!!

PS. Ncrs birthday calculator indicates build date of Aug 7/68 based on my vin.

[Modified by 68shark, 3:39 PM 10/8/2001]

Oct 8, 2001 | 05:10 PM

Tom73

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From: NM

Re: Engine VIN decoding help (68shark)

Doug,
I think you can conclude that the engine is not the original engine. The first number on the stamp pad, 781140720. should end with the last 6 of your VIN and in this case they do not. So the engine has been replaced somewhere along the line.

I just had an idea :confused: :confused: The first month of production was Sept. But in other years the first month was Aug. So could it be that Aug is A and Sept is B? I know there was one other year this happened but I cannot remember which. But that would still leave us one month short. Could thay have skipped "I" to avoid confusion with 1. I do not know.

Anyone with an NCRS Judging Manual out there who would like to jump in here?

tom...

Oct 9, 2001 | 09:56 AM

68shark

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Burning Brakes

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From: Ajax Ontario

Re: Engine VIN decoding help (Tom73)

Tom, thanks again! Can anyone shed some light on the M06 build date listed on my trim code plaque? Also, V042350 on engine ID pad...anyone know where this '68 327 block started it's life?? I thought there was a website I saw in a thread a long time back that had this info, but I can't recall it....
Thanks!!